Tensions escalated in a Senate hearing Tuesday as US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to a 2012 lunch stop on Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island with his family. The frank disclosure before the Appropriations Subcommittee has amplified resignation demands from political foes and allies alike.
‘I was on family vacation from St. Barts, stopped for an hour lunch on the island. Fact,’ Lutnick stated. He stressed no personal bond existed: ‘No ties to that individual. Barely any interaction.’
Prior claims of ending Epstein relations in 2005 are now under fire. January’s DOJ document dump indicates continued contact, with business ties reportedly lasting to 2014 per media accounts.
The revelation, covered by Xinhua, has bipartisan politicians baying for Lutnick’s head, viewing it as a grave lapse in judgment tied to Epstein’s sex trafficking empire.
Epstein’s rap sheet: 2008 state plea for minor prostitution; 2019 federal trafficking arrest; suspicious jail suicide August 10, 2019.
Triggered by Trump’s November 2025 transparency act, the DOJ released over 3.5 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 photos. Blanche noted 500+ professionals, including FBI staff, powered through 75 days of intense, frequent sessions.
This episode underscores the enduring toxicity of the Epstein network, challenging Lutnick’s credibility and the administration’s vetting processes as public outrage builds.